5starhobo (blake)

I have made multiple roundings hammers with Brian and Alec and a few more. My understanding, like stated before, is that when you isolate the faces, this allows you to use the edges of the face better since you have a little more space since the "cheeks" of the hammer arent sticking that far out. At the same time you are isolating the cheek material, this allows you to draw the cheeks out longer on both sides allowing for more friction since there's more surface area of contact. Thus you are less likely to lose a hammer head :) I wonder if Brian would pitch in for an answer here. I have a feeling im missing something. Hes the one who would truly know why he makes his hammers that way.

I'm friends with Brian and he is on this website. Search him up. He has a website aswell. Just search Brian Brazeal Blacksmith in google and it should be one of the first ones. Hope this is helpful! I use both a 3.5 and 4.5 rounding hammer, both ones i learned to forge at Brians. Love them. And if you use the proper techniques, you seriously can move some metal! If you cannot buy one from Brian, check out Dave Custer at Fiery Furnace Forge. He too is on this site! He is one of Brian's past students and makes wonderful hammers and sells them on ebay. He doesnt have a website that i know of, but search fiery furnace forge on google and check out his facebook page. :)

I would thicken it. Cut it in half and weld it up. My striking anvil is 5 inches thick, and have used a 2 inch one and it feels a little light for such heavy forging. Just my 2 cents

Im aware of the bad photo qualities. I probably should have retaken them in better conditions. If you would like, i can post more pictures to "answer your questions." Thanks for the criticism! :D Helps me learn things i need to improve on, forging or not.

Finished my first tongs a few days ago. Made from 3/4 sucker rod. Flat jawed. Constructive criticism is much appreciated! Thanks :) Heres the Imgur link http://imgur.com/a/P26EB

A striker isnt just there to swing as hard as possible, they must also watch the piece just like the striker. They must learn to watch and understand what is trying to be achieved and strike with the force needed to acheive the right blow. This takes practice, so starting out with striking on a wedge splitting wood is a good start to achieve accuracy, but not power needed to do the right work. This takes time and practice but can be easily mastered with more work; Because its harder to correct a heavy blow that over-forged the work, than a light blow that should have been a little harder.

A stationary anvil is important... :) I find that an anvil that cannot move at all, provides the best and most satisfying results.. I have worked on a 80lb peter wright, secured to a tripod stand with bolts and angle iron over the feet to where it will not move at all, with the stand bolted to the concrete floor below. No ring, makes a thud, doesnt bounce around. This felt like working on a massive anvil, when in reality it was only 80lbs! Definately shocked me. Anvil ring/movement = loss of energy! So if the anvil doesnt ring and doesnt move, you technically should be rebounding more energy through the anvil! If anyone caught any flaws in what i said, feel free to correct me! I would like to learn myself :) just my $0.02

Thanks Mr. Gaddis! It was a pleasure to meet you while on my short stay in Mississippi! Hope to see you soon again. Ever think of sending daniel some of that rootbeer of yours? ;)

Thanks for the wonderful pics brian!

Yes Daniel! It was definately more challenging without the top swages.. ;)

Yes Daniel! It was a little tricky without the top swages i would have to say ;)

Pine tar is a life saver! I have used it many times before and after getting a blister. works wonders.... Don't forget to sand that varnish off new wood handles.

When i compile my photos from my visit, i will expand my view and go in to detail ect. in a separate thread.

Yes i really appreciate your hospitality! I am planning on visiting again, and am helping spread the knowledge. The demo for my local association is in planning and i am still discussing it. Believe it or not i have started the article, just hard to find time to write it with so much school work ect. but it is in the making! Hope to see you again and hope you and karen got the little note I placed in the shirt envelope when i shipped it back! :D Stay safe! -Blake

Do you have a picture of the stock you started with and the marks showing what is what? Other than that they looked like they turned out well for 2 people! :D